Highland rolls into playoffs with win over Charleston

The Charleston Trojans traveled to Highland to take on the Bulldogs from the Mississippi Valley Conference in their final game of the season.

Charleston can not make the playoffs this year, as Highland clinched a playoff spot a couple weeks ago as the Mississippi Valley champs with just one loss on the season.

Highland scored late in the first quarter to start off the scoring. Grant Marti found Sam LaPorta for 35 yards and the touchdown as Highland led 7-0 after the first.

Marti found the endzone early in the second half with his feet this time, he went in from three yards out and the extra point failed. Highland led 13-0 early in the second.

Charleston got on the board about a minute later. Seth Higgins found Dawson Armstrong from 63 yards out for the touchdown pass. Tanner Coffey’s kick was good and the Trojans cut the lead to 13-7 in the second.

Highland answered Charleston’s score with another one of their own in the second quarter. Marti, again on the ground, went in from 29 yards out for the touchdown. The two point conversion failed.

At the end of the first half, Marti once again found his way to the endzone with his feet. From 15 yards out, the Bulldogs led 25-7 with under three minutes to in the half.

Highland struck first in the second half. Brayton Moss went in for his first touchdown on an 11 yard run. Elliott Prott’s extra point kick made it 32-7.

Later in the third quarter, the Trojans were deep in Highland territory. Bryce Frederick ran in from just a yard out for the touchdown. Charleston cut the lead to 32-14 late in the third quarter.

Another third quarter score came with under a minute to play in the quarter. LaPorta found another catch in the endzone from Marti, from 31 yards out and the Prott kick gave Highland the 39-14 lead heading to the final quarter of the regular season.

Marti found Cameron Altadonna for a 26 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for the only score of the final quarter and Highland rolled Charleston 46-14.

With the loss, Charleston’s season ends at 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Apollo which was fifth place. The Trojans will not make the playoffs this year.

With the win, Highland improved to 8-1 for their regular season and 5-0 in the Conference as they were the champions. Highland will go on to play in the playoffs.